Take your traditional timeline project on the Civil War to the next level! From the attack on Fort Sumter in 1861 to the assassination of President Lincoln in 1865, your class members will research a particular event and then teach their...

Who was our 16th president? It was Abraham Lincoln, of course! Considered by many as the most important president to date, Lincoln is responsible for bringing the divided nation together again. This resource will surely grab your...

Choosing sides is no easy matter, and this was certainly true for the citizens of Baltimore in the beginning stages of the Civil War. Using video, group analysis of several primary sources, and discussion, this detailed and thorough...

Pose the question to your historians: who really freed the slaves? They critically assess various arguments, using primary sources as evidence. In small groups, scholars jigsaw 5 primary source documents (linked), and fill out an...

Young historians consider the cause and effects of the Emancipation Proclamation. They use handouts, response sheets, and class discussion to build an opinion about the subject after viewing the PBS documentary Abraham and Mary Lincoln:...

Complete with territory maps, photos, and interesting anecdotes, this video covers the major events of American History, roughly from 1754 to 1865. Plymouth and Jamestown are mentioned in the beginning of the video, but the speaker...

Did Lincoln know that victory for the Union was imminent? According to this video, which discusses the end of the Civil War (including a great anecdote about a historic coincidence between the beginning and end of the war), many...

Games are a great way to motivate learners to internalize information.. Using this PowerPoint which is in a Jeopardy format, students can review map skills and facts about the Civil War, famous places, and our government. This is a handy...

Engage young historians in learning about America's sixteenth president with this fun Reader's Theater script. The second play in this series puts a modern spin on learning about history, involving a game show where three contestants try...

Pay tribute to the sixteenth president of the United States with this fun song and activity. From his birth in a Kentucky log cabin and childhood in Indiana, to the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and his eventual assassination,...

"History can teach us much more than just the facts. It's full of examples of how to live better." One of the greatest benefits of studying history is the inspiration we can draw from those who have worked to make a difference in the...

What is the most important document of the Civil War? Many would consider it to be the Emancipation Proclamation, written into action by Abraham Lincoln. Look into Lincoln's creation of this document, the role the developing train tracks...

A quiet, serene town in Pennsylvania became the setting for an integral battle in the Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg, Lee's second invasion of the North, failed to secure ground for the Confederacy. This video, part two in a series,...

What caused the American Civil War? Who were the major figures during this time? Focusing specifically on slavery and the attack on Fort Sumter, this resource provides a quick overview of some of the conflicts faced at this time.

It's April 3, 1865, and Robert E. Lee's troops are all but surrounded. After four years of fighting, Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant sit down together to discuss terms of surrender. This resource, part three of three, glances over the...

The Gettysburg Address is a powerful text. Use it to teach persuasion and the importance of word choice. The lesson detailed here includes a scaffolded background knowledge activity that includes image analysis of photos from the Civil...

Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the creation of The Gettysburg Address set within a modern context. They read the entire speech and then brainstorm to create modern ideas that are similar. Students compose a modern...

Could you win a million dollars by being good at your US history? Maybe not, but kids can pretend they will, as they play Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Civil War Edition. There are 15 fantastic questions about slavery, Lincoln, the...

The story of Abe Lincoln serves as the backdrop to this vocabulary-in-context activity as you read David Adler's A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln. Scholars learn these politically themed words before listening to you read the story...

Students examine how various segments of the American population viewed the Emancipation Proclamation. They read the Emancipation Proclamation, analyze key terms and statements in the document, and participate in a debate.

Who was Abraham Lincoln, and what is the Gettysburg Address? Sixth graders participate in a seminar where they read and analyze the Gettysburg Address and its importance. The role of Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War is also...

Students explore the suspension of habeas corpus. In this American history instructional activity, students examine how President Lincoln handled constitutional issues during the Civil War as they research, debate, and write about the...